Heather Drive Junk Yard Home Receiving Clean Up

A residential home that was so littered with junk that Town of Smithtown officials voted to authorize town personnel to enter and begin removing debris and garbage is getting cleaned up, however it is not by the town.

Smithtown Town Board voted to authorize town employees to enter 21 Heather Drive in Kings Park, owned by Charles Richie, to remove all junked vehicles, assorted yard waste and rubbish accumulated on the site for what some neighbors say has been more than 30 years.

According the Smithtown Town Attorney, John Zollo, the homeowner is working with a friend to get the property cleaned up, without the assistance of the town.

"The town will not be cleaning it. Everything was in place to do it, but he seems to be taking care of it," said Zollo.  "If he falls off track we can go in and clean it up."

Any costs the town incurs from cleaning up 21 Heather Drive will be held as lien against the property. A tax warrant can be issued by Suffolk County that would include the cost of the lien.

For now, the town will keep a watchful eye.

"We would prefer not to expend town resources on it," said Zollo. "It’s a marked improvement. He really is trying."

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